So, Hurricane Hanna did her best to spoil our weekend, but as storms go she was a weak breeze with lots of rain. She did manage to wipe out First Saturday, but brought great waves like we haven’t seen in a very long time. Patti and I spent a wonderful summer day on the beach Sunday and it was reassuring to still have the lifeguards there to watch over us. The surf was overhead and HUGE!

Just when you think things might be slowing down a bit, this weekend might be one of our biggest in a very long time. Jillian Rhys is at Mattison Park Friday night at 9 PM. The Copa Beach Soccer Tournament (rescheduled from last weekend) takes place on Saturday at the First Avenue beach. The ever popular Mayor’s Ball rocks on Saturday night at the Berkeley Hotel. This is Mayor Sanders’ fundraiser to provide scholarships for Asbury Park High School students. “The Children Are Our Future.”

Sunday brings us the long awaited, much anticipated Guinness Oyster Festival. I’m predicting that this AP Chamber sponsored event will draw record crowds to the downtown. If ever there was an event created for Gilmour, this is it. Two of my favorite bands, Black 47 and DeSol will be performing on the Cookman Avenue stage. For those of you slackers who haven’t been back to the city and for some strange reason were finally looking for a reason to join the rest of us who so enjoy Asbury Park’s Jersey Shore urban life, this is it. Kudos to our event planner, Ruthann Harrison who has spent the last six months planning and raising money to make this happen. HUGE! Be there!
And if you haven’t had enough by the end of the day, Mattison Park will be hosting a Guinness Oyster Festival After Party featuring Status Green at 8 PM.

I am hoping that you all get a chance to stop by one of the downtown’s newest businesses, Paranormal Books & Curiosities located at 627 Cookman Avenue. This unique shop has quickly established itself as a destination in itself. Besides all the great books and merchandise, owner Kathy Kelly conducts ghost tours throughout the city. She is launching a “Scary Movie Night” this Friday with a viewing of “1408″ starring John Cusack and Samuel Jackson (adults only). Kathy is beginning to share some of her ideas for Halloween and the holiday season and we are all in for a treat. Stay tuned!

Magazine, NJ CEO (yes, I do read these things) featured an article on the benefits of being associated with a Chamber of Commerce. Well of the 230 chambers in the state, nine were highlighted and yes, the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce was one of them. We were singled out for our business outreach and networking opportunities. Congratulations to Cindi D’Onofrio our office manager and Dan DiBenedetto our President, and the Board of Directors for all their hard work. Six years ago, we had about 60 members and if we got 10 people out to an event we were quite happy. Now, we have 248 members and average at least 100 at most of our get togethers. If you are looking to do business in Asbury Park, you need to join APCC. Very LARGE! Stay tuned!

Speaking of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce . . . the APCC will be hosting their next business networking event at Langosta (Lobster in Spanish) Lounge on the boardwalk. This is Marilyn Schlossbach’s newest offering which is intermingled with her husband Scott’s new surf shop, Lightly Salted, and Pop’s Garage, a great taco and light fare restaurant. One of the great things about the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce is we always get to party at the new businesses that are smart enough to move into the city. Definitely, “Good Times.”

My favorite florist, Southside Florist located at 725 Bangs Avenue is celebrating its seventh anniversary next Saturday. This is one of Asbury Park’s best kept secrets. Southside is the place to go in the city when you need something very special for that very special occasion or you screwed up, and need significant extra credit. Patti’s loves white tulips and somehow, someway, they are able to get them when I need them the most. Congratulations Barbara, Lorna, and the rest of the staff! HUGE!

Main Street Farmers Market, 8 AM to 1 PM.

Sunset Lake Clean Up this Saturday from 10 AM to Noon.

The Asbury Park Historical Society hosted a press conference at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club on Monday to announce plans for their Morro Castle 75th Anniversary celebration planned for September 2009. Trustee Don Stine who is heading up this wonderful and exciting event, shared some details of this historic and mysterious tragedy that prompted significant changes in maritime law. APHS’s President, Johna Karpinski indicated that Monmouth University and Monmouth County’s Department of Tourism will be partners in creating a week-long dedication to all those who died and all those who assisted in the rescue. A special memorial will be created and placed in Asbury Park. The committee is looking for memorabilia and memories (photographs, old movies, artifacts, etc) for the event. Please contact Don Stine at 732.774.4590 or sales@antichay.com or Eileen Chapman at 732.571.3512 or echapman@monmouth.edu for additional information or to donate. APHS is also looking for sponsors to help underwrite this celebration. Also, check out www.asburyparklibrary.org. One little known fact “Good Times” was quick to point out: the beaching of the Morro Castle attracted large crowds to the waterfront and required the city to create one way traffic north on Ocean Avenue and south on Kingsley Street to handle the traffic. This was the origination of Asbury Park’s famed circuit, which to this day, many thousands still hold near and dear to their hearts. This is going to be another great time in the city and yes, HUGE! Get involved!

Asbury Park is full of Good Times and this weekend is just another example of why this city is so great. Hope to see you on the beach, at the Farmer’s Market, Mayor’s Ball or full of oysters at the Guinness Oyster Festival.

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

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Tom Gilmour serves as the Director of Commerce for the City of Asbury Park and is responsible for economic development, the APUEZ (Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program), special events, and the city’s employment initiative; “Asbury Works.”